Apparatus for forming artificial-stone building-blocks from concrete.



NO- a22,013 PATENTBD MAY 29, 1 905.

} A. A. PAULY. APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTIFICIAL STONE BUILDING BLOCKS FROM CONCRETE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.E2.1906.

' 5,SHEETS*SHEET 1.

PATENTBD MAY 29 A. A. PAUL-Y. APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTIFICIAL. STONE BUILDING BLOCKS FROM. CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AWN

No. 822,013. PATBNTED MAY 29, 1906.

' A. A. PAULY. APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTIFICIAL STONE BUILDING BLOCKS PROM CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22,1906.

5' SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 822,013. 4 'PATENTED MAY 29, 1906 A. A. PAUL-Y. APPARATUS FOR, FORMING ARTIFICIAL STGNEBUILDING BLOCKS PROM CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1906.

W 5 sHEBTssHBET 4.

/ a u n sw MGKL W No. 822,018. PATENTED MAY 29, 19 .5. A. A. PAULY.

APPARATUS FOR'FORMING ARTIFIOIALSTONE BUILDING BLOCKS FROM CONCRETE.

APPLICATION FILED JANHZZ, 1906.

. 4 65" 5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

4B 62 G 1,? J8 w I jiEZ/ZZI @WWYW 5 v www unrrnn STATES PATENT caries.

ALBERT A. PAUL Y, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. APPARATUS {R FOR MING ARTIFIClALSTONE BUILDING-BLGCKS FROM (IONCRETE.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. PAULY, a citizen of the United States of/America, residing at Youngstown, in the county'of Ma honing and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in A paratus for Forming Artificial-Stone Buil ing- Blocks from Concrete, of which-the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an apparatus for forming artificial-stone building-blocks from consisting of a plurality of elements, such as presses and positive and reliable means for effecting a perfect and substantial concrete building-block.

The apparatus as an entirety primarily involves the following elements-namely, a trackway and mold-supporting cars, a plurality of presses arranged above said trackway, a smoothing and polishing device interposed between two of said presses, an endless conveyor and's'torage or curing cars. in this connection the invention resides in the utilization of these elements for quickly forming concrete blocks out of plastic materials, such as sand,'cement, or-the like substances.

The combination of the above-mentioned elements, together with the manydetails entering into the same, will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consisting in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which will hereinafter be more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

tilon involved in carrying out the objects a nient over my prior. applications for patent filed June 24-, 1905, Serial No. 266,791, and October 5, H105, Serial No. 281,483, these'applications being for certain useful improve- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 22, 1906. Serial No; 297,187.

The essential features of the present inven- )ovc specified are in the line of an improve-- rat/exited may 29, 1806.

ments in concrete-block-forming machines and molds for said machines, the present in vention being Wholly generic to the above mentioned applications.

Reference will now be had to thedrawings accompanying this application, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of m improved apparatus, illustrating the same confined within a building in a convenient manner to insure a rapid formation of concrete building-blocks. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a storage or curing car. Fig.3 is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the presses of the apparatus, illustrattherewith. Fig. '5 is a plan of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of one of the presses; Fig. 7 is a plan of the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one end of the apparatus, particularly one of the presses. 9 is a perspective view of a finished concrete block.

mg an endless conveyer used in connection i Fig. 10 is a similar view of the same, illustratremoved from the mold-supporting cars.-

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a portion of the ap aratus, illustrating the smoothing and.

p0 ishing device thereof. Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional View of the same. F i 14 is a detail sectional view of a portiono the polishin device. Fig. 15 is a plan of one of the polis ners. Fig. 16 is a plan of the polish- .ing device. Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a pallet. Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 19 is a similar view showing the formation of a block thereon. Fig. 20 is a sectional view of a pallet havin a block formation thereon which is being i inished by a capping or facing die. Fig. 21 is ing die.

The apparatus in its entirety is employed for making concrete building-blocks of varioussizes and .for producing blocks which will have a veneered or olished surface, and b a perspective view of the capping or polishthe construction an operation of the apparatus the difliciilty of producing in concrete real broken as-hler construction has been salved. The apparatus is preferably located in a building, wherein the concrete or raw productrnay be thorou lily mixed and easily and quickly eonvcye to the apparatus,

where it is given the desired form and finish and conveyed to a curing or steaming room and then to a storage room or ground. The

4 manipulation. of the concrete from the time it, leaves the mixing room or compartment of a building involves a rocess consisting of a plurality. of steps, whic will be the subject-mat ter of an accompan ifig application, the present case simply deaing with the apparatus in its entirety, and in describing the invention in detail the various elements which are combined to one end will be considered in their order, as heretofore mentioned. I

Traclcway and mold-supporting cars.-ln Figs. 1, 6, 8, and 11 of the drawings I have illustrated the trackway and the car which travels upon the same. The trackway is constructed of two beams or girders 1 1, which are arranged parallel with one another and support rails 2 2. Upon the rails 2 2 is adapted to travel a car embodying a platform 3, supported upon. trucks 4 4. Upon the plat form 3 is mounted a framework consisting of longitudinally-arranged bars 5 5 and transversely-arranged bars 6 6. Journaled in-t'lie protruding ends of the bars 5 5 are rods 7 7', while journaled between the protruding ends of the bars 6 6 are rods 8 S. Mounted upon the rods 7 7 are end doors or gates 9 9, While side doors or gates 10 10 are mounted upon the rods 8 8. These doors or 'ates when folded upwardly are adapted to form a substantially rectangular molding-frame, which may be divided and subdivided into a plurality of compartments, the number of these compartments depending entirely upon the number and size of concrete blocks to be made at oneoperation. In the present instance I have illustrated a molding-frame in Fig. 1 1, wherein the frame formed by the side gates 10 10 and end'gatesE) 9 is subdivided into four compartments 11, the inner Walls of said. compartments being formed by supplementary side gates 12 12, hinged centrally of the framework supported by the car, and by supplementary end gates 14 14., also hinged to the framework of the car. In order that the various gates of the car wi ll properly interlock and support one another while the concrete is being subjected to pressure, I provide the end gates t) 9 and 14: 14 with outwardly-extending lugs 15 upon their ends, said lugs be ing engaged within the recesses 16, carried by the upper edges of the side gates 10 1.0 and .12 12. To further lock the gates in a vertical position, I provide the side gates l0 l0 and 12 12 with transversely-aiming notches or recesses 17, andin. these notches or recesses is adapted to engage a bar 18, having depending ends 19 19, said ends being adapted to engage the outer sides of the gatesifi 10 and firmly hold said sides in engagement with the end gates 9 9 and 14 14. The construction of the gates or side walls, as they may be termed, of the molding-frame permits ol' the frame being easily and quiclily opened after acacia the concrete has been formed therein, as will lie hereinafter more fully described.

In connection. with the rectangular molding-frame as carried by the platform 30f the car I us pallets 20, (see Fig. 17,) a pallet being used ineach one ofthe compartments 11 of the molding-frame. T he pallets are preferably constructed of wood, and besides a foundation-plate 21 they constitute a core 22, said core having tapering walls, whereby when the concrete block has been formed the pallet can be easily and quickly removed without disfiguring the block. T he depth of the pallets is regulated according to the depth of the gates used in connection with the molding-frame of thepar, said pallets in practice, being ot a less depth than that of the gates or side walls of the i'noldingframe to permit of the front or hearing wall 23 of a block being formed, as will hereinafter appear.

Presses-Parallel with each side .of the traclm-ay just described and upon the outer sides thereof I arrange beams '24 24, which support the presses 25, 26, and 27 (see Fig. 4) of the apparatus, the press 25 being used in the first formation of the block to give it .its initial pressure, the press 26 subjecting the refilling to pressure and capping or veneering the same, while the press 27 is used as an auxiliary press in case it is desired to further subject the blocks to pressure. the presses is identical in construction with the exception that the dies of said presses are changeable, a slight difference also residing in connection with the press 25. Each press is formed of four standards or columns 28 28 and 29 29, the upper ends of said standards or columns being connected together by side rails 30 350 and transverse rails 31 31. The side rails 30 30 are recessed, at 32, to accommod ate journal-boxes 33 33, in which are 'ournaled transversel arran ed shafts 34 34 Each one of through the medium of a belt-pulley 38,

mounted upon the protruding end of the shaft 35, the rotary motion imparted to the shaft 35 from the belt or pulley wheel 38 be .ing governed by a conventional form of clutch mechanism 39. At this point it is well to state that i do not care to confine myself specifically to the power employed for operating my improved presses, as the drive-shaft 35 of each press may be independently driven and controlled by'a motor or all the shafts may be connected together by belts or sprocket-chains and operated from a common source of energy, the independent operation of each press being controlled by the clutch mechanism 35).

Mounted upon the shafts 34 34 at each side of the large gear-wheels 36 are eccenbars 46 are vertically-dispose screws 50,

- to mesh with a common geanwheel 59, revocarried by one of the girders 53.

seaei tries 40 40, said eccentrics carrying hangers 1 41, which are connected to a rectangular frame 42, said frame being slidably mounted between the standards or columns 28 28 and 29 29, the frame being guided in its movement by plates 43 43, which protrude between the standards or columns 28 28 and 29 29. The frame 42 carries a die-housing 44, in which a plurality of dies 45 are mounted. The dies used in connection with the press 25 are simply pressure-dies which are adapted to engage the concrete Within the moldingframe of the car and subject the same to pressure, while the dies of the press 26 may be ,of such a form as to give the front or hearing wall a desired configuration and finish.

The columns or standards 28 28 of the press 25 are provided with a transverse stripper-bar 46, the object of which will presently appear. 1

Smoothing and polishing device.-Between the presses 26 and 27 I arrange a smoothing and polishing device which is adapted to veneer and finish the concrete blocks and remove all imperfections in the surface of the front or hearing wall of a concrete block. Thedevice is constructed of a framework 47, consisting of two transverse bars 48 48, having screw-threaded openings 49 in their ends. Extending through the openin s 49 of the which are revolubly mounted in brackets 51 51, carried by the presses 26 and27, it being understood that two brackets are carried by each press. The revoluble screws are'provided with nuts 52, whereby they. can be easily rotated to'raise or lower the bars 48 48. The bars are connected together by longitudinally-disposed girders 53 53, and revoubly mounted in each girder are two sleeves 54 54, through which pass shafts 55 55, said shafts. being substantiall rectangular in cross-section and adjustab y held in engagement with the revoluble sleeves 5.4 54 by setscrews 56 56. Upon the lower ends of the shafts 55 55 are eccentrically-mounted polishers 57 57, these polishers being adapted to engage the front or hearing wall of a concrete block and polish the same. Slidabl mounted upon the upperends of the she ts 55 are gear-wheels 58 58, said wheels being adapted lubly mounted centrally of the frame 47 upon a transverse support 60. The common gearwheel 59 is provided with a beveled gear 61, meshing with a'beveled gear 62, mounted upon a"shaft 63, journaled in a bearing 64, The outer end of the shatt 63 is provided with a belt pulley or wheel 65,-whereby the smoothing and polishing device may be driven similar to the presses 25, 26, and 27, heretofore described. Reciprocating polishers may be i used in lieu of rotary polishers.

Endless c0nveyer8.- The conveyor which I employ in connection with my improved apparatus is arranged from one endof the apparatus to the other and is adapted to travel tromthe press 27 to the press 25, whereby when the pallets 20 are removed from the molding-frame of the car they can be immediately returned to the press 25, the conveyer also serving to carry defective blocks to the press 25, where they may be re-pressed or worked over again. The conveyor is constructed within a pit 66, preferably at one side of the apparatus, and the conveyor comprises a drive-wheel 67, a wheel 68 at the opposit-e end of the pit, and a plurality of idlers or chain-supporting rollers 69, over which an endless chain or conveyor 70 is adapted to travel. The drive-wheel 67 may be driven by a motor-or may, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, be driven from the press 27 through the medium of a sprocket-chain 71, a sprocket-wheel 72, and a chain 73. I do not care to confine myself to the type of conveyer used or to its specific use, as in some instances it can be readily dispensed with.

Storage and curing cams.After the concrete blocks have been properly formed by 'the presses they are seasoned or, as known to the trade, cured, in order that the artificial. stone may have sufficient waterproof qualifications for all practical purposes.

the trackway previously described, preferably at the end of the trackway adjacent to the press 27. The track 74 is adapted to lead to a suitable building Where my imroved storage or Wet-stone cars may be placed until the concrete blocks carried by them have been properly seasoned and cured. One of the cars which I employ is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings and consists of a box-like structure 75, mounted upon a truck 76. The box-like structure is provided with two side doors 77 77, which are hinged at the top edges of the car and swing outwardly, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, and when in this position are sup. ported by angularly-disposed bars 78 78, whereby easy access may be had to the interior of the box-like structure. Within the box-like structure is constructed a skeleton 79 to support the concrete blocks. Each car carries a central depending steaminlet pipe 80, above which is located a define tor 61. After the cars loaddwi i concrete In this connection]. construct a track 74 adjacent to framework which forms a plurality of shelves blocks have been removed to a suitable com- 7 partment or building steam-supplying pipes are connected to the pi cs 60 of each car, and as the doors 77 are ciiised thecontents of each car will be subjected to a thorou h steaming, which tendst'o render the blpc s waterproof, especially after they have been so treated for a period of time, and then removed to thoroughly tlry out. The cars are preferably constructed of strongi and ilurable material, whereby they will withstand the load to which they are'subj'ected, also the action of steam while the blocks are being seasoned or cured.

The detail construction of the entire apparatus having been described, the preferable manner of operating the same is as follows, reference being had particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings: As heretofore stated, the apparatus is preferably mounted in a building wherein the concrete 'is mixed, and in practice I have found it convenient to mix the concrete upon the floor above the apparatus and convey it to said apparatus through chutes 82 82, the outlets of which are con trolled by gates 83 83, whereby a workman may permit a certain quantity of concrete to descend'for instance, a quantity that would fill the molding frame of the concrete, which is located beneath the chute 82. The desired pallets having been selected and positioned within the molding-frame of the car, the thorougl'ilymiixed concrete is admitted to the car, after which the car is moved forwardly beneath the press The car in its movement travels beneath the stripper-bar 46, which is adapted to remove the excess concrete carried by the moldingframe. After the car has been positioned beneath the press the clutch n'ie'chanism 39, or the motor which operates thershaft of said press,- is thrown into operation, and as the frame 42 descends and engages the concrete the dies 4545, carried by the frame 42, subject the concrete to a pressure which forms the same,

as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, wherein the gates of the molding-frame are thrown open and the dies elevated to illustrate the configuration of the concretebloclrs after their initial pressure. As the surface of the blocks now lie below the top edges of the molding-frame and in close proximity to the top surface of the pallets the car is moved forward between the presses 25 and 26, where it is refilled from the chute 82. The refill forms what I have termed the front or bearing wall 23 of a concrete block, which was the subject-matter of one of the above-mentioned applications. The car is now moved beneath the press 26, and I will assume that the frame 42 of said press is provided with dies 84 84, adapted to produce beveled edges 85 upon the bearing-Wall 23 of the concrete block. The press 26 is new thrown into operation to subject the refilling to a pressure which produces a surface upon the block. (Shown inFig. 9 of thedrawings.) The car is now moved forward beneath 'the smoothing or veneering device, the polishers 57 57 of which have been previously adjustcd relative to the gearwhcels 58. After the car has been moved beneath the device the screws 50 are rotated to'move the polishers gradually into engagement with the concrete seams blocks, and when thedeviceis thrown into operation the eccentrically-mounted polishers are adapted to smooth and veneer the upmay be made therein for accomplishing ractically the same result. After the b ocks have been polished or veneered the cars are moved to or through the press 27, this press simply being used as an auxiliary press'in (use it is desired to double the capacity of my improved apparatus, which could be accomplished by using two cars and another smoothing and veneering device, which would be located between the presses 25 and 26. When the car has reached the end of the main trackwayof the apparatus. the gates thereof are thrown open and the pallets placed in the storage and curing cars 75. pallets and their respective concrete blocks being placed upon the shelves 79 of the cars.

The car when loaded is closed and transferred to another compartment, whereits contents are seasoned and cured, after which the car transferred to a storage room or ground and the blocks removed, the cart-hen being returned to the apparatus with the empty pallet-s, which are removed and placed upon the endless conveyor or chain 70 of the appa ratus and returned to the press 25, where the pallets may again be used.

From the foregoing description of the constructidn and operation of my improved apparatus it will be observed that havedevised novel means for expeditiously forming concrete blocks, and while I have herein illustrated the preferred manner of accomplishing the same I do not care to be confined to the minor details of construction, such as the shape of the pallets and dies or tnema'nncr in which the mechanism of my improved apparatus is driven, and such changes as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 1

What Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In an apparatus, the combination of'a 'trackway, a plurality of presses erected above said trackway, a car adapted to travel upon said trackway beneath said presses,- a molding-frame carried by said car and comprising hinged gates, detachable dies carried by sai presses, a polishing device mounted between said presses above said trackway, said pol ishing device consisting of a plurality of ro. tary polishers, an endless conveyor mounted adjacent to said presses, means to vertically device mounted between two of sai reciprocate said .dies, means to revolve said polishers, and nieans to simultaneously operate said-conveyer, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus of the type described embodying a trackway, a car mounted upon said trackway, a molding-frame carried by said car and consisting of a plurality of interlock- 1ng gates, presses mounted above said trackway, vertically-reciprocating intenchangeable dies carried by said presses, a olishing presses, and means to simultaneously operate and independently control said presses and said polishing device, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus of the type described embodying a plurality of presses, a movable car located beneath said presses, a moldingfra'me carried by said car and adapted to receive concrete, pallets mountedin'said mold ing-frame, vertically-reciprocating dies car- 1 ried by said presses and adapted to engage said concrete,'an adjustable olishing device mounted between two of sea presses, means to operate said presses, means to operate said olishing device, means to strip said moldingrame, substantially as described.

4. An ap aratus of the type described embodying a 'p urality of presses, a movable car located beneath said presses, a moldingframe carried by said car, vertically-reciprocating detachable dies carried by said presses, an adjustable polishing device supported between two of said presses, means to operate said presses, and means'to operate said polishing device, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus, the combination with a trackway, of a car mounted upon said trackway, a molding-frame carried by said car, llllil'iot'lill'l" gates hinged to said frame, pallets mountcd in saidfi'ame, presses mounted above said trackway, a plurality of detachable dies carried by said presses, a polishing device su ported. between two of said presses, revolub e polishers adjustably carried by said device, an endless conveyor mounted adjacent to said presses, means to stri said molding-frame, means to operate sait presses, means to operate said polishing device, means to operate said conveyor, and meansto independently control said presses, said device and said conveyor, substai'itially as described.

6. In an apparatus, the combination with a trackway and a car mounted thereon, of a molding-frame carried by said car, interlocking gates hinged to said frame, pallets mounted in saidframe, a plurality of presses mounted above said trackway, vertically-rcciproeating dies detachably carried by said presses, a polishing device supported between two of said presses, means to reciprocate said dies, and means to operate said polishing device, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus, the combination with a molding-frame, interlocking gates carried by said frame, pallets, supported by said frame, of a plurality of presses, verticallyreciprocating dies detachably carried by said presses, a polishing device mounted between two of said presses, means to operate said presses, means to operate said device, and means-to move said molding-frame beneath said presses and said. device, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus,-the combination of a molding-frame, pallets carried by said frame, a plurality of presses, detachable dies carried by said presses, a polishing device mounted between two of said presses, means to vertically reciprocate said dies, means to operate said device, and means to move said molding-frame beneath spid dies and said polishing device, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus, the combination with a trackway and a car mounted thereon, of a molding-framc carried by said car and adapted to receive concrete, interlockin gates hinged to said frame, pallets carried y said frame, means to strip said frame, means to lock said gates, means to subject the concrete in said frame to an initial pressure and a refilling pressure, and means to smooth and polish the concrete in said frame, substantially as described.

10. In an ap aratus, the combination with a trackway am a car, of a u'iolding-framc carried by said car and adapted to receive concrete, interlocking side gates and end gates carried by said frame, supplementary side gates and supplementary end gates mounted within the first-named side gate and end gates,- pallets carried by said frame, means to strip said frame, means to subject the concrete of said frame to pressure, substantially as described 1] In an apparatus, the combination With a trackway and a car, of a molding-frame adapted to receive concrete, interlocking side gates and end gates carried by said frame, supplementary side gates and supplementary end gates mounted wi thin andinterlocked with the first-named gates,means to strip said frame, means to subject the concrete of said frame to pressure, substantially described.

12. in an ap iaratus, the combination with a trackway and a car, of a molding-frame carried by said car, presses mounted above said trackway, movable dies carried by said presses, a polishing device supported between two of said presses, a conveyer arranged adj acent to said trackway, means to operate said presses, means to operate said polishing device, and means to operate said conveyer, substantially as described.

13. An apparatus of the type described embodying a plurality of presses, detachable dies carried by said presses, a movable molding-frame adapted to travel beneath said dies, means to vertically reciprocate said dies,

IIO

and means to move said frame, substantially as described.

14. An apparatus of the type 'deseri bed embodying a plurality of presses, dies carried by said presses, a molding-frame, a polishing device interposed be tween said presses, means to move said molding-frame beneath. said presses and said polishing device, and means to independently operate said. resses and. said polishing device, substantially as described.

15. An apparatus of the type described embodying a plurality of vertically -'reciproeating dies, a movable molding-frame adapted to travel beneath said dies, a polishing device mounted adj aoent to said dies, and means to independently c )erate said dies and said polishing device, su stantially as described. I

16. An apparatus embodying a plurality of sets of vortically-reciprocating dies, :1. molding-frame, and means to move said frame from one set of dies to another set of dies, substantially as described.

17 An apparatus consisting of a polishing device, a molding- Tame adapted to eontaln concrete, means to subject the concrete oiwy. said/frame to pressure, and means to move 1 said frame to meet said polishing device to be polished thereby, substantially asdescribe d. 18. An apparatus consisting of a molding frame, presses, a polishing device, a-'-- conve'yer, and means for simultaneously 0 erat mg the presses and polishing device su stan-' ALBERT A. PAULY.

Witnesses:

- K. H. BUTLER, E. E. Por'rnn. 

